Kurenai glanced at her pocket watch checking every five minutes that had passed.
"A quarter to midnight." It was almost about time, she had decided earlier to get Sakura first since her house was the easiest to be found, she jumped down from the beech tree she had just landed seconds ago, and set her feet squarely on the tiles of the roof.
Inside Sakura, Tenten and Ino were sprawled on the living room couch while watching a murder movie; all was dark other than the flashing television that stood in front of the girls.
Kurenai looked through the pane of glass on the sunroof inspecting their movements; she was half shocked to see them still awake this late.
Sakura yawned, apparently lying messily underneath a thick pile of quilts and blankets she made and her bright pink hair tangled holding the television remote in one hand while hugging the covers with her other, unaware of the female ninja spying from above, while Tenten whose eyes were half closed lied comfortably on the sofa staring wearily at the screen in her flowery pajamas on.
Ino on the other hand was fully awake enjoying the movie crouching among a mountain of feathery pillows, stacked neatly in three piles with her orange spotted tank top, however she was so focused on the show that she had no time to realize that something was wrong.
Kurenai was exceptionally glad that the window was left open and also by the fact that she could easily climb in without too much difficulty.
Sakura was the first to realize that one had entered her house, screaming loudly she dropped the television remote leaving Ino to scramble underneath the sofa and Tenten wide eyed with horror fell of the sofa and onto the pile of pillows below.
They all ended up hiding under the couch shivering with cold sweat. Tenten was the first to recover even though she stood up; her legs were trembling slightly and tried her best to stay calm.
Ino was panting so hard that her tongue was hanging out now exchanging terrified glances with the Sakura who remained utterly frozen.
For a long time the room was quiet with the teacher standing firmly in the center," K-Kurenai sensei!" She said shakily rising to her feet.
"What are you doing h-here?" questioned the young girl uneasily. "scaring our wits out, too!" complained Ino helping Sakura up, Kurenai ignored her comment," it's something urgent, we leave now!" She scolded coldly and clasping Ino's wrist.
She yawned looking affronted," Why not wait until tomorrow, we were at the best part of the show." She clicked off the television with a displeased frown on her face. Sakura and Tenten too looked restless, "don't we get our shirts on first?" Sakura asked vigilantly.
They all nodded, how would they possibly leave with only their pajamas on? Besides it would seem foolish to other passerby and their weapons were not even on hand, if this was in fact urgent then they should at least all get ready before leaving.
Kurenai didn't look at all surprised and answered in a rather calm tone, "You won't need them, as a matter a fact we are running out of time, let's hurry." She warned leading the trio of bewildered girls out onto the sidewalks.
It felt dark outside, most of the street lights had been turned out, all except for the one at every corner of the street; it shone with a dim, eerie light that cast large scary shadows on the roads.
The night was quiet, they assumed that everyone was asleep by this time, it was indeed getting late.
The entire village was particularly quiet that you may hear the soft whistling of the night breeze passing through the brittle leaves covering each tree. The air too felt chilly as it stung against the girl's faces, Tenten wrapped her arms around herself feeling a bit bitter against the wind. Sakura did the same, following closely behind Kurenai as she turned around the corners of the ally.
Kurenai wondered how the other sensei was handling, they had all organized this earlier according to their plan, and Kurenai was in charge of the three girls including the two Hyuuga children.
Gai would be in charge of Lee as well as Choji, Kakashi with Sasuke and the spiky haired Naruto, and at last master Asuma taking care of Kiba, Shino, and Shikamaru. So far there didn't seem to be too much trouble other than the reluctant complaining from the three girls, everything went fairly smooth.
Next would be Neji and Hinata which lived together in the Hyuuga Compound at the end of this block. Ino rubbed her eyes several times, they haven't talked much along the way, and "It looks like Tenten fell from the couch, were you scared?" Ino antagonized sarcastically while Sakura giggled with satisfaction.
Tenten being used to all her sly jokes replied crossly, "Not at all, but I heard you scream rather loud!" She began to retaliate grinning hard. Sakura's glanced from Ino to Tenten overhearing their conversation, "Well, I bet you'd like Neji to catch you when you fell!" She mocked as if she had read her mind.
Abruptly Tenten's face had turned into a light shade of pink, and then became red; she clenched her fists wishing she could punch Ino in the face.
Sourly she stammered angrily, "Just shut it, will you?"
Both girls laughed even louder, knowing that she had a crush on her former teammate for the longest time. Tenten looking even more embarrassed than ever knew deep inside that even though she had been joking all along, her words were true, she stiffened raging now yelling at the top of her lungs,
"T-That's not true!" She lied indignantly; obviously she wasn't at all good at lying. She could feel her throat grow dryer every moment and her sore throat made no attempt to say things normally, but shakier than usual.
There came another wave of laughter from Ino and Sakura now murmuring secretly in each other's ear, but they made their conversation rather loud as if wanting Tenten to hear them.
"What part of shut it do you understand?" The raging girl cried furiously.
She could feel her heart beating even faster than usual, thumping against her chest. One her biggest fears were to reveal her secret, but now what could she possibly do? Kurenai silently stopped at the Hyuuga mansion entrance, putting a finger to her lips, signaling them to be quiet.
"We'll be getting the other two now, you wait here," She commanded.
"Whatever you do, stay together as a group and as for everyone, be quiet!" She proclaimed pushing the door open with out knocking, then stepped cautiously into the house for what seemed more like a minute town one would be lost exploring it.
In the center of the mansion stood an enormous garden with a flowing brook running across the two sides, and there was also a stone bridge leading from one end to the other, from either side there grew a patch of bamboo.
She looked around several times, trying to find any sign of movements; it didn't take her long to discover a young blue haired girl strolling along the side of the bridge. The Hyuuga compound was larger than she expected and it would take at least half a day to explore the entire mansion, she hurried to catch up with Hinata.
"K-K-Kurenai s-sensei, what are you doing here this l-late?" She spoke rather fast, and through her eyes Kurenai could she that the young girl was obviously surprised. She put one assuring hand on Hinata's left shoulder, "We need to leave now, it's urgent and I don't have much time to explain."
Hinata though agitated followed Kurenai sensei obediently, "By the way, show me where your brother's room is, he is coming with us too," Kurenai informed scanning the entrance for the third time, making sure no one had seen them yet.
"I-It's the one on the left," They hurried down along the corridor with pictures of the entire Hyuuga family; Kurenai didn't recognize much of the people shown on the photo other than the children, Hinata and Neji. They halted at the end of the hall, where Hinata pointed to a white tradition Japanese door.
"H-Here it is," she responded after she had caught her breath, Kurenai nodded hesitating as she pulled the handle swinging the door back. She stumbled inside finding the Hyuuga genius pouring over a book on Advanced Defense Actions jerking his head back when the female kunoichi had arrived, looking as calm as ever turned back to read.
"You're still awake?" She questioned with interest, Neji who didn't look the least bit of concerned ignored her comment glancing at her with his emotionless eyes.
Kurenai staring down at him with sweat poring down her forehead provoked, "Get up Neji this is extremely urgent." She requested again and again with disbelief that was replied with another cold stare,
"then if it is, I presume that it can wait until tomorrow," he returned with a do-I-look-like-I-care smirk. "Let's go, we leave now!" She hollered at him and was rejected with another "No" Hinata and Kurenai exchanged a frantic glance; they knew that Neji wouldn't be too easy to convince. He cared less whether his sister or sensei was here or not.
"Please, we will be late," she prompted wearily after he answered with another refusing "No".
Before Kurenai could say any more, Hinata began, "N-Nii-san, please if this is r-really important, then w-we might need you, it c-could be an m-mission," she pleaded now sitting on her big brother's bed.
Neji took one cold glance at his younger cousin then closed his book patiently and followed Kurenai who scolded strictly, "It was an order, and you should've taken it seriously!"
Hinata sighed with relief as her brother accepted with an "Hn". The three of them bounded out the door remaining as quiet as they could, making sure they stayed in the shadows.
The three girls were still outside the entrance greeting Kurenai as she led the two Hyuuga siblings out the door. Tenten seeing her former comrade following Kurenai out, immediately remained quiet then greeted him with a small rather welcoming smile,
" N-Neji-san, you're here too!" She said blushing a bit as he looked in her direction.
"Hn," he responded quietly in his own way, it was important for her to see these things; Neji had different ways of doing things and that was what she liked about him. After a few years of training with him, she was able to tell what he meant through these little yet essential details.
"H-hi everyone," Hinata exclaimed cheerfully offering a little wave while the other girls smiled back. Neji being the only boy followed closely behind Kurenai while the others were a little far back, together the group raced off in the night toward the clearing where they would gather.
Meanwhile Kakashi entered the Uchiha house looking frantically for Sasuke's room, it took him a while to drag Naruto along with him now would come Sasuke, he had to admit kidnapping Naruto was quiet simple.
While Naruto was dreaming of a monthly supply of ramen, Kakashi brought an entire bowl along, entertaining him with the smells until the sleep walking Naruto fell down the stairs into Kakashi's sack, it had took him about five minutes, but Sasuke as being a more skilled Chuunin would be a lot harder.
After a few minutes Kakashi found the peaceful Sasuke lying on a soft bamboo bed at the corner of the room.
"Get up, I know you're awake!" He commented sitting beside his bed. There was no sound, the young Uchiha lied still without a single movement, and Kakashi had to admit that Sasuke was great at faking.
"Faking how are we?" He said once more now looking a little more irritated." Your eyes are half open, Genius." He added sarcastically pulling out his Icha Icha Paradise from his packs. Sasuke flinched then sat up with a kunai in his hands ready to slash it across Kakashi's face,
"Being sneak now, are we?" he replied coldly, but when he realized it was Kakashi he stopped immediately looking suspiciously as the sensei stood up.
"You sleep with a kunai?" the curious ninja questioned in interest.
"Of course, for defense," he smirked quietly, it was hard to make out their faces in the dark, but through their voice it was much easier to tell. He continued grimly, "I suppose you are looking for someone?"
Kakashi didn't look too surprised, "Well, it's something urgent I won't exactly have time to explain, we leave now!" Sasuke sat up then followed the shadowy ninja out through the entrance as the darkness swallowed them up.